Helena Handbasket

By Tivoli

Lefteris' bach

I may have mentioned before that on this island, though by no means all, it is women who inherit property, not men. Men are expected to be breadwinners and women home-makers. Traditionally when your daughter gets married you give her granny's old house and if granny is still alive she might move back in with you. There are many of variations on this theme, some of which require building new houses for daughters and all sorts. Complications arise when you have too many daughters or if you have several sons who marry women from elsewhere who are not bringing a 'dowry-house' into the union.

Lefteris has three sisters and the family is very far from wealthy. For several years therefore, Lefteris lived in this single room with white walls and tiled roof. He made the outside nice with a shaded pergola and a kennel for his much-loved dog. Despite all this he appears to have a shed larger than his own dwelling, perhaps it doubles as an en-suite. He displays an unusual fondness for cement blocks.

I haven't dared look closely over the fence before for fear of being caught prying, but I recently spotted Lefteris in a neighbouring village with a small child in his car with him and so I figured he is now married and has moved out of his bachelor pad. I am happy for him.

Another fine opportunity for AirBnB I believe.

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